1548. An Angel's Majestic Power
An Angel's Majestic Power
"And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it" (Mat_28:2).
Some men have doubted the fact that Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the fish, and then vomited out upon the land. That occurrence, however, was no more than a child's play to what we now consider.
Jesus Christ was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, and yet He came forth.
1. The scene of the resurrection carries with it four striking statements.
(1) The earthquake.
(2) The descending angel.
(3) The stone swept back.
(4) The stately seat.
This order of events cannot be read without one's mind immediately anticipating the analogy between the resurrection of Christ and the Second Coming of Christ, and the resurrection of saints at His Coming.
(a) The Lord's Coming will be preceded by the great earthquake that marks the close of the hour of tribulation.
(b) The Lord will descend from Heaven and the holy angels and translated saints with Him.
(c) The enemy will be swept from Him at His coming–the stone rolled away.
(d) The Lord will sit in stately power, ruling over all the House of Israel.
The Coming of the Lord for His saints will be attended by a mighty shout, there certainly will be tremendous movements among men.
The angel who descended at the resurrection of Christ had a countenance like lightning, and his raiment was white as snow. Our Lord in His Second Coming will have a countenance brighter than the noonday sun, and He will be clothed with garments that are white and glistening.
2. We love to consider the scene at the tomb of Christ in its relationship to the empty tombs of the saints when Christ shall come. He has said unto us: "Because I live, ye shall live also" (Joh_14:19). He was the first-fruit, the saints will be the harvest that follows.
How wonderful to see Christ descending, rolling back the stones, and calling the bodies of the saints from their graves!
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR